Delhi Restaurant Blaze Claims 20 Lives, Dozens Injured; Rescue Operations Continue

New Delhi, June 2026: A devastating fire at the multi-storeyed Lemon Green Restaurant in Delhi’s Malviya Nagar on Wednesday morning left at least 20 people dead and several others injured, prompting a large-scale rescue and emergency response operation.

According to officials, the blaze erupted in the building during the morning hours, triggering panic among occupants and visitors. Rescue teams managed to evacuate 37 people from the premises and rushed them to nearby hospitals for treatment. Authorities said several of the injured remain in critical condition.

Eyewitnesses reported chaotic scenes as thick smoke rapidly engulfed the structure. In a desperate attempt to escape the flames, some individuals reportedly jumped from the upper floors of the building. Emergency personnel, including firefighters, police officers and disaster response teams, worked tirelessly to evacuate those trapped inside.

Senior officials from the Delhi Police, Delhi Fire Services and other rescue agencies reached the site soon after the incident and have been supervising the ongoing operations.

Fire department officials said ten fire tenders were immediately deployed after receiving information about the blaze. Firefighters succeeded in bringing the flames under control after an intensive operation, preventing the fire from spreading to nearby structures. However, the building suffered extensive damage.

Speaking to reporters at the site, Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Jitender Kumar said preliminary findings suggest that the fire may have originated in a restaurant operating in the basement of the building.

“I received information about the incident in the morning and instructed teams to reach the location immediately. Although I was scheduled to attend training, I came directly to the site. Initial indications suggest that the fire may have started in the basement restaurant, but the exact cause will be determined only after a detailed investigation,” Kumar said.

Authorities have launched a comprehensive probe to establish the circumstances that led to the tragedy. Officials are also examining whether safety norms and fire regulations were being followed at the establishment.

The search operation remains underway as rescue teams continue to inspect different sections of the building for any individuals who may still be trapped.

Kumar warned that strict action would be taken against those found violating safety regulations or operating illegally. He said the administration would direct the concerned departments to identify and act against establishments functioning without proper permissions or in violation of prescribed norms.

The incident comes just a day after another major accident in the capital, when a suspected LPG cylinder explosion caused a building collapse in Delhi’s Mukundpur area, injuring ten people and raising fresh concerns over safety compliance in commercial and residential structures.

(The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the Mavericknews30 team.)